Last updated: November 2024
I love New York City at Christmastime. It may be crowded and a little hectic, but I think that’s the Grinch-like way of looking at it. From intricate store window displays and statuesque Christmas trees to iconic ice skating rinks, holiday markets, magical decorations and more, New York City is such a fun and festive place to be this time of year. And even if you’re just coming in for a brief visit, you’ll still have time to experience a lot of it.
Of course there is so much to do and see across all five boroughs during Christmastime, but this self-guided walk is a great starting point of some highlights, and perfect if you’re just coming in for a day trip.
Use the map at the end of this post to guide you on your festive day out.
A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Christmastime in New York City
Grand Central Terminal | 89 E 42nd St.
This first stop will be especially convenient if you’re arriving to the city on the Metro-North Railroad line.
The much-celebrated Main Concourse of this iconic New York train station is a sight to behold all year long, with its 60-foot high arched windows and vaulted teal ceiling adorned with reproductions of constellations.
During the holidays it becomes even more magical with giant wreaths and easy access to the station’s annual Holiday Fair taking place in the adjacent Vanderbilt Hall, with local vendors offering handmade products and unique gifts. This year’s market runs from November 11th, 2024 through Christmas Eve. Find details on daily hours here.
Also on view again this year is the New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show, open November 14th, 2024 through February 2025 just off of the Main Concourse in the Upper Level Shuttle Passage. Visitors can enjoy miniature train replicas journeying through an intricate display of city landmarks on their way to the North Pole. Click here for hours.
Lotte New York Palace Hotel | 455 Madison Ave.
Exit Grand Central Terminal toward Vanderbilt Ave., walk along 43rd St. for one block, and turn right onto Madison Ave. In just a few minutes you’ll find the Lotte New York Palace, one of the city’s most festive holiday hotels. At over 30 feet tall, their courtyard tree is a neighborhood favorite, returning to its full-size glory in 2023 after downsizing during construction in 2021 and 2022.
Step into their Grand Lobby to see the hotel in gingerbread form. This annual Palace tradition is brought to life by their Executive Chef and pastry team over the course of 300 hours using 110 pounds of gingerbread dough and icing.
Visit their website for even more holiday offerings announced soon. In the past they’ve featured a variety of festive activities including a courtyard Winter Bar and visits from the Radio City Rockettes and Santa.
Cartier 5th Avenue Mansion | 653 5th Ave.
Take a left onto 51st Street and walk alongside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, spanning an entire city block, until you reach 5th Avenue. If you’d like, step inside the cathedral to appreciate the enormous structure (the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the country) and its ornate Neo-Gothic design.
At this point you are steps away from the iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, so if you’d like to cross 5th Avenue to head straight there now, you can. But for this walk we’re going to save the tree and first head up 5th to see some of the classic New York boutique decorations, starting with Cartier.
Every year the brand’s flagship NYC location is dressed to the nines for the holidays with sparkling, large-scale decorations adorning its facade.
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Fifth Avenue Seasonal Installations | Spanning Fifth Avenue
As you continue up 5th, keep an eye out for special holiday installations from the Fifth Avenue Association. In 2020, they decorated the street with giant light-up displays including a yellow taxi cab, a toy box, a hot air balloon, a mail delivery truck, and more. The installations were so popular that they continued to put them up through 2022.
In 2023, 150 Fraser and Noble firs came together in festive displays set up between 47th St. and 61st St. with a special photo arch on 59th St.
No plans have been shared yet for 2024, but check their website in the coming weeks to see if anything is announced that you can keep an eye out for on your walk. The group did recently share on their Instagram that on December 8th, a section of Fifth Avenue will be “closed to traffic and open for shopping, strolling and celebrating the holiday season!”
Pulitzer Fountain | 764 Central Park South
Continue seven blocks up 5th where you’ll find the Pulitzer Fountain in Grand Army Plaza, located directly at the southeast corner of Central Park. This is another spot decked out for the season by the Fifth Avenue Association.
Each year the square is also home to the world’s largest menorah, measuring in at 36 feet tall. (Not to be confused with another larger-than-life version at Brooklyn’s own Grand Army Plaza, clocking in at 32 feet tall.) Members of the public can see it lit every evening during Hannukah, starting this year on December 24th.
Bergdorf Goodman | 754 5th Ave.
Turning around to head back down the other side of 5th Avenue, you won’t want to miss the holiday window displays at Bergdorf Goodman, just one block south of the Pulitzer Fountain. Their theme in 2022 was Magic in the Making, with each window celebrating a different type of artistry from dress-making and paper sculpture to mosaic, woodcraft and more.
2023’s theme was Isn’t It Brilliant, with dazzling, light-filled displays.
The intricate vignettes take almost an entire year to plan for and create followed by multiple weeks of careful installation, representing more than 10,000 hours of work.
The Peninsula New York | 700 5th Ave.
The Peninsula is another one of the most festive hotels in the city during the holidays. Even if you’re not a guest, you’re welcome to step into the lobby to see the beautiful display centered around their grand staircase and made even more dazzling by the detailed ceilings and giant crystal chandelier.
Rockefeller Center | 45 Rockefeller Plaza
It’s time for the city’s most iconic Christmas decoration of all – the tree at Rockefeller Center.
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Some may call it cliché, crowded, touristy, and any number of other negative adjectives, but to those people I say – who hurt you?
Personally I feel like the tree at Rockefeller Center is every bit as magical as the believers claim it to be, especially paired with the ice skating rink and gilded Prometheus statue. Check it out up close but don’t miss out on the view from the far end of the Channel Gardens, lined each year with the plaza’s only permanent seasonal decorations, the Christmas Angels. They were created by Valerie Clarebout in 1955, using 76 miles of aluminum wire, brass and mini lights. Each one holds a 6-foot brass trumpet pointing toward the tree.
In past years, this was also a great spot to catch the Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. In 2023 Saks partnered with Dior to create “Dior’s Carousel of Dreams at Saks” and the centerpiece of the show was a giant zodiac display spanning more than 100 feet and illuminated with ~300,000 LED lights.
In sad news for 2024, Saks recently announced they will not be holding their annual light show this year. Many are shocked by the company’s decision to forego this much-anticipated tradition that has become a focal point of Christmastime in New York City since its inception in 2004. Instead, a statement from the store shared that after long contemplating a change, they will use a pared-down approach for the coming season, “honoring the architectural significance of this iconic building, elegantly illuminating the facade and framing the holiday windows.”
Visitors can take comfort, then, that at least the store’s iconic holiday windows will still be decked out for the season. Don’t forget to cross the street and take a closer look before heading to your next stop.
New York Public Library | 476th 5th Ave.
To me, libraries are cozy and magical all year long. But at Christmastime, you can see Patience and Fortitude, the marble lions guarding the entrance of the New York Public Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, donning wreaths to join in on the festivities.
For many years, the lions wore wreaths around their necks during the holiday season, but in 2004 it was discovered that the tradition was actually damaging the sculptures. For almost a decade the lions went wreath-less, until in 2013 the library enlisted Chelsea-based American Foliage & Design Group to create artificial Norwood Green Spruce wreaths. Several precautions were taken to avoid any further damage, including building the wreaths with no metal, which can corrode the marble, and using Marine-grade plywood to prevent water damage.
If you’re still looking to check some gifts off on your list, step just inside the building to visit their gift shop.
Bryant Park | 42nd St. and 6th Ave.
Just behind the NYPL, you’ll find the Winter Village at Bryant Park. Similar to Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park has a Christmas tree and ice skating rink. The Winter Village also offers a European inspired open-air market, a lodge and food hall, rentable igloos, and a curling cafe. Learn more here.
2024’s festivities are underway, with ice skating, shops, and more already open for the season. The rink and shops will remain open through March 2nd, 2025, with select shops closing after January 5th, 2025.
From Bryant Park, it’s an 8-minute walk just a couple of blocks east to circle back to Grand Central Terminal. Or, use some of the suggestions below to continue sightseeing.
More Ideas in the Area
- The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is located at the southwest entrance to Central Park. From the Pulitzer Fountain, it’s a 10-minute walk heading directly west on 59th St.
- Wollman Rink, another option for holiday ice skating, is an ~eight minute walk through Central Park from the Pulitzer Fountain.
- More iconic holiday window displays can be found at Bloomingdale’s (59th St. and Lexington Ave., east of the Pulitzer Fountain) and Macy’s Herald Square (151 West 34th St., south of Bryant Park)
- Radio City Music Hall, home of the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Radio City Rockettes, is a 5-minute walk from Rockefeller Center.
- Times Square is a quick 5-minute walk from Bryant Park. While locals may look down on it and it is basically the most “touristy” you can get, I think it’s fun to see at least once.
- Enjoy a pick-me-up right at Rockefeller Center at the Ralph’s Coffee truck and while you’re there, don’t miss the festive window displays at The Lego Store. Both of these are located one block north of Rockefeller Center in Atlas Court, where you can also see the iconic Art Deco Atlas sculpture. Any 30 Rock fans out there will definitely recognize this one!
Food and Drink
If you’re hoping to keep your meals festive too, we had a great lunch at the beautifully decorated La Grande Boucherie followed by an afternoon drink at cozy Valerie. La Grande Boucherie is a 10-minute walk northwest of Rockefeller Center and Valerie is a 5-minute walk north of Bryant Park.
We also loved our lunch at Jupiter, conveniently located ringside right at Rockefeller Center.
Exploring Other Neighborhoods
In 2023 we also took a separate walk to the Union Square Holiday Market with stops at Washington Square Park, Gramercy Park, and S&P Lunch.
On other Christmastime trips to the city, I’ve enjoyed visiting the South Street Seaport, The Oculus, and Chelsea Market (shown in order below).
Walk Stats
To do a full loop starting and ending at Grand Central Terminal (or anywhere else along the walk if that is more convenient for you), this route clocks in at just under three miles with an estimated walking time of one hour and five minutes. Of course, I recommend taking your time and enjoying each stop thoroughly, not to mention plenty of food and coffee breaks! This is a flat route and wheel-accessible due to being fully on sidewalks.
Use this map to guide your walk.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate the holiday season? Do you have NYC recommendations for this time of year? Please share them in the Comments!
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2 Comments
Peter
December 16, 2024 at 2:58 pmNicely done, thank you!
Niya Sisk
May 12, 2025 at 9:05 pmI love this. Thank you for taking the time to write articles about NYC. The photos are so inviting.